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Sarafina: her trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre also has Reliable Man in the Arc

PICTURE:APRH

Sarafina shortens to 3-1 for Arc after Prix Foy win

By James Pugh 6:30PM 11 SEP 2011

PRIX FOY winner Sarafina is as short as 3-1 (from 4) for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 2 following her last-gasp success in the Group 2 at Longchamp on Sunday.

The four-year-old had a nightmare passage but accelerated through a tiny gap inside the final furlong under Christophe Lemaire to win by a short neck, a performance that delighted trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, who said: "That's exactly what we wanted. She didn't have a hard race and she found a lot at the finish.

"She was fresh today but will not be in three weeks' time. We're generally pleased with the race."

Sarafina is a general 7-2 shot for the Longchamp showpiece but Coral were impressed enough to shorten her to 3-1 favouritism.

Coral spokesman Simon Clare said: "She is a worthy favourite for the Arc in an open-looking year. She was desperately unlucky in the race last year and appears primed to make amends in this year's renewal."

More moves in the Arc market on Sunday followed the victories of Galikova and Reliable Man, who staked their claims for glory with wins in the Qatar Prix Vermeille and Qatar Prix Niel respectively.

The Freddy Head-trained Galikova, a half-sister to 14-time Group 1 winner Goldikova, was cut to as short as 5-1 (from 9) with Victor Chandler and Stan James after she stayed on powerfully over 1m 4f to win her first Group 1.

Head said: "It would be a great surprise if the owner [Alain and Gerard Wertheimer] didn't want to go for the Arc.

"What pleased me was that she stayed and the way she finished. Like her sister, she has won a Group 1 and they didn't go that quick but she really ran on well."

Royer-Dupreholds a strong hand in the Arc as he also trains Reliable Man, who bounced back from a disappointing effort in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris to win the Niel in great style, as he comprehensively reversed the form with Meandre who was four lengths ahead of him last time out over this course-and-distance.

Reliable Man is a general 8-1 chance (from 20) for the Arc following his two-and-a-quarter length defeat of Meandre, who was pushed out to 14-1 (from 8) after his below-par display.

John Oxx: trained Born To Sea's half-brother Sea The Stars

PICTURE:Edward Whitaker

Born To Sea was cut to 10-1 (from 16) with Ladbrokes for next year's Qipco 2,000 Guineas following his impressive debut win at the Curragh on Saturday.

A half-brother to the mighty Sea The Stars, the John Oxx-trained juvenile quickened up well to win the Listed Irish Field Blenheim Stakes under Johnny Murtagh and Ladbrokes reported strong support for Born To Sea for the Newmarket Classic next May.

Hayley O'Connor, spokeswoman for Ladbrokes, said: "We quoted Born To Sea at 16-1 after his win on Saturday but the volume of money we've taken in the 24 hours since has seen his price plummet into 10-1 and he remains very much in demand."

Christophe Soumillon will not feature at all on Arc weekend after picking up a careless riding ban in the last race on sunday's Longchamp card.

Arrivederla and jockey Williama Saraiva went down after appearing to clip heels with Soumillon’s mount Glasshoughton, who went on to pass the post first.

The winner was disqualified after Soumillon was adjudged to have moved across, and he was suspended for 15 days, starting in a fortnight’s time.

With no obvious Arc candidate for his chief retainer the Wildenstein family, Soumillon would have have been on Ballydoyle’s shortlist had he been available.